Toe-weight



(No Model.)

J. D. KELLER. TOE WEIGHT.

No. 518,998. Patented May- 1, 1894.

NITED STATES.

PATENT ()FFICE.

JAMES DAVID KELLER, OF DETROIT, MICHIGAN.

TOE-WEIGHT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 518,998, dated May 1, 1894;

Application filed September 14, 1893- Serial No. 485,484- (No model.)

therein known as toe-weights; and the obj ect' of the same is to produce certain improvements in the detailed construction thereof.

To this end the invention consists in means for adapting the weight for application to hoofs of different degrees of inclination to a vertical, as Well as in the specific manner of attaching the weight in place; all as hereinafter described and as illustrated in the drawings, wherein Figure 1 is a perspective view of a hoof with my improved weight attached thereto. Fig. 2 is a central vertical section of Fig. 1. Fig. 3 is a detailed view of the hook and standard. Fig. 4 is a perspective view illustrating how the upper end of the standard may be pinched toward the weight to throw the lower end of the standard out of the groove.

' Heretofore toe weights have been constructed which were composed of a clip engaging the shoe, a standard detachably engaging and rising from the clip, and a Weight proper connected as by a screw or bolt to the standard. My toe weight is of this same general structure, but its points of improvement over former devices in this line are a square hole in the front end of the clip engaged by a tongue at the lower end ofv the standard to prevent turning or lateral movement of the standard when in place, a bend in the body of the standard to facilitate its application to the said hole while standing in the groovein the Weight, and a lip at the lower end of the weight bearing against the front edge of the shoe as the bolt is turned whereby the standard and weight are set automatically at the same inclination as the front of the hoof. The construction is described below.

Referring to the said drawings, the letter A designates the horses hoof, and B is the ordinary shoe secured thereto in any manner. Through the lower edge of the hoof just above the front of the shoe I burn or cut a groove 0 rectangular; in cross section, and of just sufficientsize 'to permit the passage of the body of a hook D. The downturned inner end E of this hook stands against the inner edge of the shoe, and its outer end projects beyond the front of the hoof'and shoe and is provided with a rectangular hole F as seen.

G is the standard, also preferably of rectangular cross section as seen, and provided at its lower end with an integral reduced tongue Hof a shape and size to pass into the hole F of the hook, while its body is bent slightly to the rear at about the center of its length and here provided with a hole I countersunk in the rear face of the standard for a purpose to appear below.

J is the weight proper, which is preferably of nearly the shape of half an egg with flattened front and rear faces; and in its rear face it has a longitudinal groove K of a size to receive the standard, with a hole Lthrough the body of the weight and the bottom of the groove at the center of the length of the latter at a point to register with the hole I in the standard-a1so for apurpose to appear below. The lower end of the groove K does not pass out the lower end of the weight, but a lip M is here provided projecting beyond the line of the rear face of the weight and at a point to bear against the front edge of the shoe.

N isa bolt whose head 0 stands in the countersunk end of the hole Iin the standard and whose body projects through this hole and that in the weight, and P is a small nut or tap screwed onto the protruding front end of this bolt. Obviously a screw might be here used, which would pass loosely through the hole in the weight and take into the hole in the standard which would thenbe'threaded to receive it; butas such modification would be but a mechanical equivalent, I have not illustrated it. The parts are of the desired sizes and materials, and some considerable change may be made in their exact shapes without departing from the spirit of my invention.

In the application of this improved toe weight to a hoof, whether horses or colts and whatever the angle of inclination of the front of the hoof to the plane of the shoe, the hook is first passed in from the rear until its perforated end protrudes at the front of the shoe and there held in place by one hand, the standard is then placedin the groove in the weight and the bolt passed through the aligned holes with the nut or tap screwed slightly onto its front end to prevent its falling out of position, and the operator then takes the weight in his other hand and pinches the upper end of the standard into the bottom of the upper end of the groove. This pinching thereofby reason of the curvature of the standardthrows its lower end slightly to the rear and out of the lower end of the groove, and the tongue can then be passed downward into the hole in the front end of the hook. The weight is then dropped into place and with the standard falls back against the front of the hoof, after which the nut is tightened as will be clear. Such tightening of the nut draws the standard closely into the groove in the weight and causes the latter to turn about its lip as' a fulcrum bearing against the front edge of the shoe, until the upper ends of the standard and weight are brought down tightly upon and against the hoof at a point somewhat above the shoe and the whole is securely clamped in place. To remove the device, the operation is reversed. When in place, it will be obvious that no hole is formed in the shoe and no screws passed through the hoof, and yet the device is securely and firmly locked in position against loss or displacement. If found desirable, a jam nut or other nut lock may be employed, but experience has taught me that this will not usually be necessary and I have not, therefore, illustrated it. From the shape of the parts, it will be seen that the weight and standard together serve as a lever whose fulcrum is the lip, whose power the bolt, and whose weight the hook; and the latter, with the lip, acts as a clamp to embrace the shoe from opposite sides. When removed, it will be obvious that there is no objectionable spur, clip, or other part whatever left upon the hoof or shoe to become broken in the stall or pasture or to cause injury to the stock. If a heavier weight is desired, it can be substituted for that shown without change of parts, except possibly the use of a slightly longer bolt if the weight be of considerable thickness, but as it will generally be made wider and higher to give additional weight, even this change is not necessary.

What is claimed as new is- 1. In a toe weight, the combination with the weight proper having in its rear face an upright groove closed at its lower end, the standard seated removably in said groove and havtongue removably fits, as and for the purpose set forth.

2. In a toe weight, the combination with the weight proper, the standard seated against the rear face of the weight and having a tongue at its lower end, and a bolt connecting the weight and standard between their ends, the body of the standard curving to the front between its ends; of a hook secured to the shoe and having a hole wherein said tongue removably fits, as and for the purpose set forth.

3. In a toe Weight, the combination with the weight proper having anupright groove in its rear face and a lip at the lower end of the groove projecting to the rear beyond the plane of said face, a standard removably seated in said groove and having a tongue at its lower end, and a bolt connecting the weight and standard; of a hook passing just over the shoe from the inside with its protruding end extending into said groove above the lip and there provided with a hole for the reception of said tongue, as and for the purpose set forth. 7

4.. -In a toe weight, the combination with the weight proper having at its lower end a lip projecting beyond the plane of its rear face, a standard seated against said face and having a square tongue projecting from its lower end above said lip, and a bolt connecting the weight and standard; of a hook passing just over the shoe from the inside with its protruding end extending above the lip and provided with a square hole for the reception of said tongue, as and for the purpose set forth.

5. In a toe weight, the combinationwith the weight proper having at its lower end a lip projecting beyond the plane of its rear face, a standard seated against said face and having a square tongue projecting from its lower end above said lip, a bolt with its head countersunk in the standard and its body passing out through the Weight, and a nut on the front end of the bolt, the body of the standard being curved forward between its ends; of a hook passing over the shoe from the inside with its protruding end extending above the lip and provided with a square hole for the reception of said tongue, as and for the purpose set forth.

6. In a toe weight, the combination with the weight proper having an upright groove in its rear face and a lip at the lower end of the groove projecting beyond the plane of said face, a standard removably seated in said groove and having a square tongue projecting from its lower end above said lip, the body of the standard being bent to the front between its ends, and a bolt passed through the standard and weight from the rear and having its nut on the front; of a hook passing scribed my signature on this the 12th day of over the shoe from the insidewith its protrud- September, A. D. 1893. ing end extending into said grooveabove the lip and there provided with a square hole for JAMES DAVID KELLER 5 the reception of said tongue, all as and for the Witnesses:

purpose set forth. Y BELLA KELLER,

In testimony whereof I have hereunto sub-h NELLIE M. KELLAR, 

